MIKE RUTSEY, QMI Agency

GREEN BAY - The New Orleans Saints have seen this act before — the team drafting a former Heismann Trophy winner who led his team to a BCS title.

Goodbye Reggie Bush, say hello to Mark Ingram.

We’ll have to wait a while before we can say which back had the greater impact on the Saints but in New Orleans it seems they already have a lot of faith in the rookie from Alabama.

Drew Brees is the heart and soul of the team and its undisputed leader and to date he has been impressed by Ingram and has given him his seal of approval.

“He is used to playing big-time football,” Brees said recently of Ingram. “You play in the SEC or Big Ten, you are used to playing physical football. Every week is such a competition, such a challenge. Obviously, he had that experience coming in, but, still there is an adjustment.

“I think he is one of those very smart, attentive guys who pays attention to the other veterans: guys like Pierre (Thomas) and (Darren) Sproles and the things that they do in order to learn and in order to make sure that every time they are on the practice field it’s 100 miles per hour and then to be able to recover, come out the next day and do the same thing. I think consistency is always a big thing for rookies coming in as you learn the system and learn the nature of the game. He seems to be on track. Obviously, I have been very pleased with his progress.”